(Cover by leaving_forever )

^Go Flex- Post Malone
Present

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." ~Dr. Seuss

Can the top of your head sweat?

The only reason I ask is that in that moment, it was all I could think about. My mind consumed by my increasingly sweaty body that felt as though I'd just dunked myself in the river at the bottom of the village.

Why am I sweating, you may be wondering?

It's a long story actually, one I only feel obliged to tell as the whole village already knows, therefore everyone else might as well be in on every little detail of my life.

Too bitter?

Mum says ever since the unexpected occurred, bitterness has been slowly creeping inside of me like a spreading disease. I can't say I disagree with her.

Anywho, that's enough about current me. No, you're all here to know about my past. January 2nd to be exact. The first day I spoke to Romain Porte.

It was both beautiful and tragic. The first being because of how perfect those first few months ended up being and the second because of what happened in the months to follow.

I can't say I'm either proud nor ashamed of what went down that night. However I can say it makes for one great story.
___________••••••••___________
2015 2 years ago| Bus Buddies

"Every new friend is a new adventure...the start of more memories." -Patrick Lindsay

"I think I'm going to throw up." Are the words my best friend Tilly said as our biology teacher picked and prodded at the organ system of a pig. I couldn't blame her, what with the smell of blood making me want to jump out of the two story window.

I turned to her, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze. Tilly smiled, breathing forcefully and slowly to calm herself down as the teacher droned on about heart valves and such.

When first period ended, Tilly and I rushed over to graphics in fear of our monstrous teacher. We did this every lesson, terrified that if we turned up late she'd shift into a great white and eat us alive.

Taking our seats, I went about grabbing my folder as the rest of the class filed in, the cool January breeze drifting in every time the door opened. It wasn't until the teacher arrived that the class quieted down and everything became dull once again.

I want to say it was almost halfway through the lesson when the door burst open and in walked the notorious outcast, Romain Porte.

Black curls, high cheekbones and eyes the colour of crashing waves. Clad in a black and green tartan shirt rolled to the elbows with a black T beneath, tight black jeans and builder boots from Timberland. An expensive watch glinted on his left wrist, his right covered in various different bands and chains I'd heard he'd collected from travelling.

I dropped my eyes back to my folder, my knees bouncing with nerves. It was as if he held the atmosphere in the palm of his hands, toying with it and making the whole room bend to his will.

Having moved to WinterTree last fall, his family were still foreign to the area. It didn't help that the moment he stepped onto school grounds he rained havoc, turning those who were once good bad and those patient teachers into ones who were quick to snap. The more friends he made, the worse he got. Not only was he a nuisance at school, but in the outside world. I'd overheard many cases of him being found with alcohol and various other illegal things for his age.

He'd moved from a small town in France, mum told me. His parents are Camilla and Patrick, his younger sister Chloe and golden retriever Rufus. The only reason I know all of this is because of one simple reason: the village talks.

His accent wasn't thick as you might assume. However whenever he got in trouble, you could always hear him murmuring something in French. A language I had never taken an interest in learning until he arrived.

Our graphics teacher took a steady breath, folding her arms over her chest and narrowing her eyes. "Why are you late this time, Mr Porte?"

Romain grinned as he took his seat, leaning back as if he didn't have a great white shark staring him down. Unluckily for me, the only free seat was the one right beside me.

Tilly glanced at me, fidgeting with the sheets of her folder as I folded my arms uncomfortably. Clearly not in the mood for a fight, our teacher continued the lesson, surprisingly without disruption.

I dared a glance at Romain's folder that looked as though it had been shoved into a wood chipper. Multiple times.
To my uttermost surprise, his work was pristine, good even. Part of me had expected a half assed job and the other nothing at all. What I saw instead were intricate design ideas for our exam project, neat and steady notes and even various materials he'd obviously tested.

In that moment Romain lifted his head to look at me as I quickly snapped my head down to my own work. Despite not being able to see him properly, I knew his eyes lingered. I wasn't sure whether to ask if he needed help or not, my guess being no by the large A's drawn all over his work.

After a moment, his hand reached out and took my pencil case. I snapped my head to him in shock, opening my mouth to demand for it back when I remembered the great white lurking nearby. Pressing my lips together, my eyes burned in anger as I watched him riffle through my things.

He pulled out a pencil, giving me a nod of thanks. I gritted my teeth, giving him a nod back and clenching my fists beneath the table. All through the lesson I was unable to forget. It wasn't the fact that he took my pencil, it's the fact that he didn't ask. It's just plain rude.

The buzzer went off what felt like hours later. Tilly said bye as I packed my things, she was walking home as I had to get the bus. Slinging my backpack over my shoulder, I was just about to leave the room when I heard-

"Hey, blonde waves!"

I paused mid step, knowing I was the only one left in the room with blonde wavy hair. Biting my bottom lip, I turned to see none other than Romain Porte leaning against the desk, my pencil behind his ear as he smiled.

"Thanks for the pencil."

I shrugged rather awkwardly. "Don't mention it. See you next lesson." I made to turn.

"Wait." He said, stopping me. I inwardly sighed. I hated being near people like him. They always made feel uncomfortable and like I had something to prove. My biggest critics just so happened to be my peers. "What's your name?"

I laughed humourlessly. Of course he didn't know my name. If this school wasn't a cliche it would be nothing. "Catherine Kate."

"Kind of ironic given Kate is a nickname for Catherine." He said, shoving his hands into his pocket.

I cringed. "Guess my parents hate me."

He laughed. "Join the club."

I smiled in an attempt to leave. "Nice designs, by the way."

He looked down at his wreck of a folder and looked down at his feet almost shyly. "They're nothing."

"You must be passionate to put that amount of effort in." I said. As a second thought, "You can't begin to tell me you do it for the grades."

He nodded smiling. "You got me there."

I looked around then remembered something. "Crap, I'm gonna be late for the bus. I'll see you around-"

"What bus are you on?"

And so that is how Romain Porte became my bus buddy. Sounds weird I know, and it was for the first month before it became routine. He told me none of his friends got the bus as he was the only one in WinterTree and I was the first person he'd actually met from the village.

I didn't know what the think of that.

It was an odd friendship. When we talked it was usually about design and sketches. I'd shown him mine and he'd help me, boosting my grades from a low C to high B in a matter of weeks. I was stunned, thankful and honestly confused.

I didn't tell my friends, knowing they would be just as confused if more. No, this was our little secret. As we got the only bus that went to WinterTree, no one knew but a bunch of a kids who were younger than us that paid no heed. Not that I had anything to hide of course.

It was only on a Friday evening when I invited him around to help him revise for an upcoming exam that things happened and our relationship changed...
____________••••••••__________
Friday| 8 Weeks Later

"We all have stories we'll never tell."
~Unknown

"Maths can go suck a big-"

I held up my hand, stopping him mid-sentence. "Finish that sentence and I'll shove you off the bus."

Romain didn't smile like he usually did when I got annoyed. Looking down at his maths book, he made a sound of frustration before repeatedly hitting his head on the seat in front of him.

I rolled my eyes. "You must know something."

"The world doesn't work that way for people like me, Kate." Romain sighed, looking at me with his enticing blue eyes. "It might have helped if I bothered to show up to lessons."

I shook my head, cursing the idiotic boy seated next to me. "Time to face up to your mistakes, friend."

"Don't be a smart ass." Romain muttered, turning his body so that his knees were against my right thigh. "Tutor me?"

"Jump off a cliff."

"Did it once." He shivered. "Cold."

I looked out of the window. "Get someone else to tutor you."

"Everyone else I know is even stupider than me." He argued.

"Wow, they must have the brain cells close to that of a pigeon, then." I said.

Romain ignored me. "Please, Kate. If I fail I will be forced to do after school and we won't have bus talk."

I laughed. I couldn't help it. "It would be a blessing, I assure you."

Romain whacked me with his book. "Please-"

And so he began to make annoying high pitched noises repeatedly in my ear.

"Fine!" I yelled, caving in. Romain grinned. "Come by when we get off and I'll tutor you for an hour."

Romain playfully pushed me. "Thats the spirit! The world will be proud."

I said nothing, only continued looking out the window, inwardly dreading the night ahead.

••

No one would be home until five o'clock. Giving me a good half an hour gap between when Romain left and the family arrived.

I was planning all of this in my head as Romain and I walked through the village, bags slung over our shoulders as the odd car would drive past at the respectable speed limit. Romain lived around ten minuets away, I knew. Near the church. His street was on the outskirts of the village whilst mine was dead centre.

Romain walked with his hands in his pockets the whole way, eyes scanning our surroundings as if he didn't also live here. I guess he didn't come down this part much unless going to the one shop around the corner from my house.

Only a minuet or two away from the house, we bumped into Hannah-Lou, the sweet old lady who played the piano in the church. The moment she spotted me, her face lit up and she slowly made her way in our direction.

"Hannah-Lou, I've been meaning on visiting you after your hip surgery. How did everything go?" I asked sweetly.

Hannah-Lou smiled. "It went just right, darling. Tell your mother I'm still waiting for those chocolates, will you?"

I smiled. "Of course."

Hannah-Lou's eyes slid to the silent Romain, a look of disapproval shining in her aged eyes and weathered face. I swallowed down my nerves, a sweat breaking on my forehead as I explained how we were revising. I don't know why I had to explain myself. It almost felt as though I were being scrutinised.

Hannah-Lou said her farewells to me, ignoring Romain as if he weren't even there. I didn't dare look at him as we continued down the street, the only sound being my converse as they hit the pavement.

We arrived at my house minutes later and Romain watched as I turned the key in the lock and opened the door to the fresh smell of bread. Romain breathed in deeply and stepped in after me.

I chucked my key onto the stairs and ventured into the kitchen, Romain curiously looking around the house as he followed me. As expected, mum had left a fresh loaf on the counter to cool as she went to work.

"Can I get you anything to eat or drink?" I asked the quiet boy behind me, turning to see that his enticing blue eyes were fixated on the bread.

When he didn't answer I laughed, grabbing two plates and cutting four slices of bread from the loaf. "Do you like ham sandwiches?"

Romain nodded, his eyes now watching my perfect cutting. "Sure."

Filling two glasses of water, I handed Romain one along with a sandwich, his eyes catching my own.

"You don't have anything stronger?" He teased.

I rolled my eyes, pushing past him and settling down at the dining table. As he took a seat beside me, I gathered my books, some paper, a pen and a website filled with maths questions.

Romain groaned. I was about to remind him that it was him who requested my help, when I realised the groan was because of the sandwich. Despite it having been a simple task, I blushed as I looked down to write the first equation.

Romain finished his sandwich in two minuets flat, taking even less time to scarf down mine after I offered it to him. I looked down at him as he attempted to solve the questions I had given him and asked, "Did you not eat at school?"

Romain shrugged. "Never really do. There are more important things."

I scowled at that. I knew exactly what those 'important' things were. Everyone knew about the kids that would smoke at the bottom of the field during break and lunch. I cringed, secretly trying to see if I could smell it on him.

Romain laughed, lifting his head as I froze. "It's rude to smell people."

This time, I blushed from embarrassment. "Did you smoke?"

Romain looked back down at the paper. "Not that it's any of your concern but...yes."

I could have sworn I heard a hint of shame in his lilting voice. I shrugged. "I know people who smoke. It's no big deal."

This time Romain didn't look up. I continued. "I was tempted to join them once-"

Romain snapped his head up so quickly I thought he'd get whiplash. His eyes burned molten blue as he said, "Never do it, Catherine. Do you understand? People like you shouldn't be poisoned."

I was speechless. I swallowed hard once, twice, three times... "Then why do you?"

Romain laughed bitterly. "Because I'm not like you. Did you not see the way Hannah-Lou looked at me. You can't do the things I do and be seen as someone like you."

"Then why do it?" I demanded, my confusion towards the whole situation making me frustrated.

An emotion that I couldn't detect flashed across his face. Without a word, he stood from the table and grabbed his bag. I also stood. "We didn't get a chance to revise-"

"I'm going to fail either way so what's the difference?" Romain said as he strode for the door. He looked back at me once. "Stay good, Catherine."

I could do nothing but watch as he closed the door behind him and left.

                                  ••

It had been nearly three weeks since I last spoke to Romain Porte. He ignored me in graphics, not that I made a move to talk to him, and he no longer took the bus. I couldn't explain the... emptiness I felt in his absence. With not being able to laugh and tease with him. Not only that, but I had a world full of questions on the tip of my tongue that burned for answers.

Sitting at lunch with my friends, I couldn't help but scan the canteen for any sign of the bad boy. I must have been so zoned out that I hadn't even realised Maddy was talking to me until a chip hit my face.

I looked up to find them all looking at me with a mix of humour and concern. "Heavy thoughts?" Maddy asked.

I sat upright in my chair and looked down at the food I hadn't touched that had now gone cold. "Something like that." I muttered.

"You haven't been yourself lately." Bethany said worriedly, taking my hand across the table. "Is everything all right at home?"

I swallowed hard at her words. I knew what she meant. All my close friends that surrounded me did. "It has nothing to do with that." I said softly.

Bethany only nodded and went back to eating her lunch as Maddy pressed on. "It it school? Is someone bullying you? Because if they are-"

I held up a hand. "No one's bullying me Mad." I said. "I'm fine, really."

Tilly gave me a small smile from her seat beside me which I returned. Bethany was watching me closely, especially as my head snapped up at the sound of his voice.

Romain walked into the canteen, friends in tow, talking loudly about something to do with prom. Ugh prom...

"I am a free man." Romain was telling his best friend Mitch Wright, smiling cockily as they got into line for food, the rest of their group finding a table in the corner of the room. "Therefore I shall be a free man at prom."

Mitch rolled his eyes. "You're gonna die alone, mate."

At those words, Romain's eyes slid across the room before landing on me. I froze in my seat, my tongue suddenly becoming a heavy weight in my mouth as his blue eyes bore into mine, his arms crossing over his chest.

Mitch broke the moment by slapping his friend playfully. "Earth to Roe..."

I looked away too quickly to be casual. Refusing to look any of my friends in the eye as I ate my cold meal in silence, heart thumping in my chest.

"What was that?" Maddy said in shock, her brown eyes looking ready to pop out of her pretty face. "Am I wrong, or did Romain Porte just romantically stare at Cather?"

I glared at her, throwing a carrot stick at her face. Bethany looked just as equally shocked, her jaw having dropped and hazel eyes large, just as equally confused as Maddy.

I finished my lunch quickly, saying a quick farewell to my friends as I rose from the table and speedily walked to drop off my tray. It would seem my exit was not so swift when I heard, "Catherine!"

I couldn't not turn. However the thought of facing him in front of all of them had my heart racing and as I dug my teeth into my lower lip.

It seemed I didn't have to, as not a moment later Romain appeared in front of me, curling black hair disheveled and blue eyes as bright as gemstones. "Catherine." He breathed.

I swallowed, my body tense as I felt the whole canteen's eyes on the two of us. I could feel their judgment, their confusion as to why the schools bad boy was talking to me.

Mitch yelled from somewhere behind me, "You're freezing up mate!"

People laughed but Romain didn't. He was too busy staring into my eyes. I couldn't look away. "Prom?"

I blinked.

Romain twisted the metal cuff on his right wrist nervously.

I blinked again.

Romain blew out a breath, running a hand through his silky hair as he muttered, "Merde." Shaking his head, he looked up through long dark lashes and said, "Do you want to go to prom with me?"

I was at a loss for words until people began to murmur under their breaths. Romain looked increasingly nervous as I blurted, "Sure."

My mind went back to Hannah-Lou's face when she saw me hanging around with the villages outcast. My body shivered.

Romain cracked a grin. "I'll text you?"

I heard someone question how we had each others numbers in us first place. I wasn't about to turn around and explain we were 'bus buddies'.

With my nod of confirmation, Romain left to go back to Mitch as I ignored my own friends by leaving finally, the whole canteen watching the girl they had never noticed before in shock.
___________•••••••••__________
4 weeks later

"Friendship is like a flower that grows and blooms in beauty..." ~Unknown

Romain had just gotten his drivers licence. This meant that the two of us no longer had to get the bus. It also meant that everyone knew we were friends.

Our relationship had...changed in the last month. After his proposal in the canteen all those weeks ago, we'd started talking again. He had been the one to surrender first, asking for my help in maths again. I said yes, careful not to bring anything up that might offend him like the last time.

His visits became regular. Always when the family wasn't home, of course, but nonetheless every Monday and Friday evening. Maths, on the third time he visited, was pushed to the side when I discovered he'd never watched a Marvel movie before. A real shock for a girl who had grown up obsessed with Iron Man.

Watching Marvel movies became our past time. And soon enough, we were sitting beside one another, joking and laughing as if we were best friends. I had never felt like this with one of my best friends before.

Romain, during our month of blossoming friendship, even revealed to me that one of his biggest insecurities was his accent. He'd told me that he'd been afraid people would bully him for it, therefore has been putting on a fake neutral accent ever since.

How I discovered this?

Well, it had been a Friday night, maths books still unopened on the dining table, Thor bloopers on in the background as the two of us became covered in flour, bread ingredients scattered around the kitchen.

"I can't cook." Romain said for the hundredth time.

I rolled my eyes. "Your French. The breads in your blood."

Romain shook his head. "That's like me saying fish and chips are in your blood. Or pie and mash."

I scrunched up my nose. "Gross."

Romain ran his hands through his curly hair. "I can't cook."

Ignoring him, I stuck my hands into the mix and began to knead. Romain silently watched, blue eyes wide in terror. I inwardly smiled to myself.

Once the right texture, I slapped it down onto the table in front of Romain and gestured for him to have a try.

"What do I do?"

I sighed at his helplessness. "Just smack it. Hit it. Punch it. I don't know. I hear you have a lot of aggression."

Romain visibly swallowed. "It's different."

I looked at him pointedly, however resisted mentioning the countless assault and damage charges he'd faced in this passed year alone.

I tried not to think about it, especially as I'd grown to care for the boy beside me, who was now looking down at the dough as if it were a large bug he refused to touch.

Cautiously, Romain approached the dough and began to prod it. I stifled a laugh, covering my mouth with my hand. Roman glared at me, eventually really getting into it to the point that it fell to the ground.

"Enculer!" Romain cursed, flipping his hair out of his eyes. "You made it look so easy."

"Does your mum not cook?" I asked, picking up the dough and brushing it off before taking over the kneading.

Romain shrugged. "Here and there. But it's usually my dad."

"He never taught you?"

Romain ran a hand through his hair again, a streak of flour trailing behind. The look was almost endearing. "A few times. But my grand-mère was the best."

I looked up, blowing the hair from my eyes. Romain watched the action closely. "Does she live here, too?"

Obviously I didn't mean WinterTree, as everyone knew everyone around here.

Romain smiled weakly. "Sadly, no. She died when I was ten to breast cancer. We moved here just the four of us and our dog. If she were still alive, I would have refused to leave her side."

I was at a loss for words, the sudden urge to cry becoming apparent. Perhaps it was because of his sad story about his grandmother, or perhaps it was the fact that he sounded different. What I assumed to be himself.

Romain seemed to realise this as he began to blush, looking at anything but me. His accent was beautiful, thick and passionate like all the movies.

Romantic.

"You're...lovely." I managed to breathe. Romain knew what I meant, even if I myself didn't. This lead to him opening up about his secret. One that even his closest of friends didn't know.

It was later into the evening when I finally asked him a dying question. Both of my parents had taken night shifts and I had invited Romain over in the hopes of getting to know him a bit better.

The special was left over stew from the night before and the bread we'd prepared. Taking a bite from the steaming loaf, a gagged. Looking up at Romain across the table I asked, "How much salt did you put in?"

Romain frowned and said in his true accent, "A pinch."

Reaching across the table for the pepper I demanded he show him his version of a pinch. It's safe to say I was appalled when I saw the large quantity of pepper he poured.

Romain began to laugh. After scowling for a bit, I couldn't help but join. It wasn't until after our fit of laughter that I asked, "Why me?"

Romain looked up from his soup and frowned.

Pressing my lips together, I thought over my way of going about the question. "Why did you ask me to prom?"

Romain didn't blink as he said, "I like you."

I shifted on my seat. "Right."

Romain smiled, blue eyes sparking as he rose from his seat. I looked up at him, a gasp leaving my lips when he braced one hand on the table and the other onto the back of my chair, leaning down so that our noses nearly touched.

"Tu es belle." He murdered and I swallowed hard. He smelt of men's cologne with an undertone of smoke. I couldn't say I hated it.

I bit my lip, my breathing erratic as he just stared into my eyes.
"Embrasse-moi." He said before finally filling the gap between us and pressing a gentle kiss to my lips.

I had never kissed a boy before. Never even thought about it. Maddy was beginning to think my fancy went a more feminine way at one point, or that I was just so frigid it held me back. The truth was, none of the boys had taken my fancy until now. Until Romain Porte borrowed my pen in class.

Hesitantly, I wrapped my arms around his neck and he pulled my up from my seat, hands going to my waist. I jumped in surprise when he pushed his tongue into my mouth. The idea had seemed so gross before, yet I welcomed it, my hands traveling to tangle in his thick curls.

Romain made a pleased noise in the back of his throat that set my body on fire. We pulled apart rather reluctantly, both panting and flushed from our make-out session.

Not knowing what else to do, I smiled.

Romain's face darkened. "J'adore ton sourire."

I had no idea what he said. To be honest, I didn't know any of the words he'd said in French. I'd have to look them up later if I could even remember.

"I have to go." Romain said after a moment of pleasant silence. "I will see you tomorrow night?"

I nodded. "See you tomorrow night."

To my uttermost surprise and happiness, Romain pressed a feather light kiss to my lips before leaving with a wave.

I sat down, perhaps a little wobbly, and thought about prom the next night and how I couldn't wait.

To be continued...